Today at the Migration Policy Institute, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), John Morton, outlined his vision for immigration detention reforms which he hopes will mark his time and tenure at ICE. In particular, Morton emphasized the need for detention facilities that are designed specifically for immigration detention purposes as opposed to converted prisons. His vision is to redesign facilities to look like civil detention centers rather than criminal jails. While detention advocates welcome the intention of Morton’s new goals, the question remains as to whether ICE is capable of implementing these much needed changes after years of less than favorable reports about the immigration detention system and a flurry of articles by Nina Bernstein in the New York Times detailing some of the problems in the system.

Morton proudly cited the creation of the Office of Detention Policy and Planning, whose role is to design and plan a civil detention system tailored to address ICE’s needs. Morton also discussed new protocols for investigating the deaths of those held in detention, which provides for more transparency in investigations as well as Congressional notification. He also explained that ICE is in the process of hiring 50 people to monitor and oversee daily detention practices in the largest facilities.

Morton’s list of upcoming reforms is a bit longer:

An effort to centralize immigration detention facilities in specific hubs where access to legal counsel, families, and medical treatment would be plentiful. In addition, these facilities would be managed at the top by federal employees subject to clear, transparent, and fully implemented detention standards (though Morton told the crowd at MPI that they must be “patient” on revised detention standards, as ICE is trying to find something that works for both advocates and contractors, and is cost-effective).

Medical treatment will be helped along by a planned classification system that all detainees would go through upon intake, as well as “regional case managers” who will be responsible for serous medical issues in detention.

Reducing the number of detention facilities. ICE detains 32,000 people per day and around 380,000 per year. Morton stressed the importance of keeping the system compact and organized (ICE has already eliminated 50 facilities under Morton’s watch).

Aiding in this effort will be an online detainee locator system, which is expected to be launched in June. Morton also mentioned reducing dependence on contractors, but was quick to say that they would never completely eliminate contractors, whom he explained were more cost-effective and did a better job at certain tasks than the federal government.

Finally, Morton talked about ICE’s preference to detain only criminal immigrants. He detailed ICE’s desire for smart, cost-effective alternatives to detention in order to ensure court appearances for non-criminal immigrants who pose a flight risk. Morton revealed that the Executive Office for Immigration Review is conducting a pilot program for alternatives to detention, and that after testing is complete there could be 16,000-17,000 slots available for immigrants to be placed in these programs.

Previous reports have outlined the need for detention reforms. Morton’s plans are long overdue, welcome and promising, but the department still has a ways to go before advocates will be satisfied that our nation’s immigrants caught up in detention are receiving fair and humane treatment.

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I don’t believe a word of it. There was a time I would have, but I’ve seen so many of these statements this last year . . . and each time it’s followed up with more detentions and worsened conditions . . . I actually cringe when I read yet another bunch of promises. Detention is already a living hell, for the one captured in it and for the family connected to him/her. We just can’t afford for it to get any worse and we can’t afford any more promises with actual results continuing in the opposite direction. If one of these guys wants to really be believable I’d suggest actually doing something without all the previews and fanfare and then pointing to the finished product, preferably in the form of an end to American families torn apart by ICE.

I’m with Deborah. ICE is more preoccupied with covering up their own abuses than actually addressing the problem.

Travis Packer

Deborah & Matthew,

Those are fair comments. I will say, however, that if we are getting promised specific reforms in public now, we have something to hold ICE accountable for. Certainly we would not wish immigration detention upon anyone, but that does not mean we should ignore or fail to reform it.

As for cover-ups and transparency, ICE certainly has a ways to go, but if I recall correctly the cover-ups reported by Nina Bernstein occurred under the Bush administration (though apparently some of the officials still remain employed in this one). I think that Morton coming to talk with the public about proposed reforms is a good step–it shows us that he is at least considering detention reform and gives us details about this. As you said Deborah, the next step is the finished product.

John Ryan

Mr. Morton’s outline of ‘…ICE’s preference to detain only criminal immigrants…’ is what confuses me and millions of Americans. You see, we understand that crossing into our Country illegally is a crime (because there is a law that prohibits entering illegally) thus making illegals, well, criminal immigrants.

Once federal officials address and explain their redefinition of what is and what isn’t illegal actions we will have a point of understanding to start at.

Today, upwards of eighty percent of American citizens, those of us bearing the burden of aliens in our midst, view the acts of government officials like Mr. Morton as further proof this is a politically sanctioned invasion.

CarlMcGinnis

We keep hearing the same thing. But I have seen no action. I hate that my tax dollars are being spent to house non criminals. We spend billions each year paid to private jails when these people can be with there family supporting them until there trial.Why do we have to house, feed and give medical care to illegals waiting for a trial? It costs just to much.We need to cut spending.